Local United Ways Merge to Serve Growing Community
November 1, 2019, NASHVILLE, Tenn.—United Way of Metropolitan Nashville (UWMN) and United Way of Williamson County (UWWC) announced today that the two organizations have officially merged as of October 31, 2019.
The newly combined organization will rebrand, operating under the new name United Way of Greater Nashville beginning in January 2020.
This change was driven by both organizations’ desire to expand services and reach more individuals and families in need throughout Greater Nashville. Both Boards of Trustees unanimously voted in December 2018 in support of this measure and created a special sub-committee that worked with leadership to negotiate the terms and conditions of the merger. UWWC President and CEO Pam Bryant and UWMN President and CEO Brian Hassett began working together in mid-2018 to bring this merger to fruition, with a strong focus on how best to partner and serve the clients, agencies, and businesses of both communities.
“We believe that by streamlining operations and joining under one umbrella, we will be able to extend and improve our programs and impact more people, ultimately creating a more equitable and vibrant region,” said Gord Knapp, UWMN board chair and president and CEO of Bridgestone Americas. “United Way is uniquely positioned to drive change, and both boards unanimously agreed that we are stronger together.”
While many factors contributed to this decision, leadership from both sides acknowledged that with the growth of Nashville moving at an unprecedented pace, the lines between counties or cities are becoming less defined. Citizens commute across multiple county lines to get to and from work and home. Many local companies have a presence in multiple counties or cities across the region.
“We know that a coordinated effort is required in order to better serve our neighbors,” said Eric Stuckey, UWWC board chair and Franklin city administrator. “While each community in the greater Nashville area has its own unique needs, we can make an even stronger impact through coordinated, concentrated efforts of neighboring United Ways as well as the local partner agencies.”
Staff from both organizations will remain in place, and the combined organization will maintain a local office in Williamson County. The new parent organization, United Way of Greater Nashville, will serve Davidson, Williamson, Robertson, Cheatham, Hickman, and Unicoi counties.
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About United Way of Metropolitan Nashville
At United Way, we unite the community and mobilize resources so that every child, individual and family thrives. Together, we are fighting for a community where every child receives a quality education, no one lives in poverty or poor health, and the most basic needs of our families are met. We are uniquely positioned to the lead this fight by bringing individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government to the table to have the tough conversations, mobilize the resources and make the smart investments that will create lasting solutions for our region’s most pressing issues. LIVE UNITED. For more information, visit unitedwaynashville.org and follow us on social media @UWNashville.
About United Way of Williamson County
United Way of Williamson County is committed to creating real change and measurable improvements in the day-to-day lives of thousands of people. We bring together people, companies, and organizations from across our local community to identify and support solutions to our most critical issues. Serving Williamson County for 58 years, United Way of Williamson County fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. Change doesn’t happen alone. To live better, we must LIVE UNITED. To find out more, visit uwwc.org or call 615-771-2312.
